Norbert Badin papers. Financial correspondence. Folder 02-08, 1888-1894. - Norbert Badin papers. Financial correspondence. Folder 02-08, 1888-1894.

The Badin family was the oldest family of free people of color of creole heritage and their descendants who lived in the Cane River settlement, a large community of free people of color in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. The family is descended from the slaves of Pierre Badin, a planter of tobacco from Thorigne, France in the diocese of Poitiers. In 1791, Pierre manumitted all twenty enslaved persons in his possession. The freed slaves continued to live with Pierre and adopted his surname. Prior to Pierre’s death in 1805, he drafted a will naming his former enslaved persons as his legatees.</br></br> Zeline Badin married Joseph Roque, a descendent of Marie Thérèse Coincoin, in 1893. The couple lived in the Badin-Roque House, an early colonial bousillage home built by Jean Baptiste Metoyer.</br></br>Oscarine Badin married Edgar Antee (died 1938, sometimes spelled "Anty"), and the couple had at least one child, a son named Edward (born approximately 1894).</br></br>Edward Antee married Ethel Moran (born approximately 1898) of Melrose, Louisiana. The couple had a number of children, including Joe and Tony Antee.</br></br> Badin and his descendants appear to have stayed in the Cane River (Isle Brevelle) area of Natchitoches Parish during the creation of the papers, with the exception of Joe and Tony Antee, who corresponded from Beaumont, Texas and Mansfield, Ohio, respectively. Their great-aunt, Zeline Badin Roque, lived in Natchez, Louisiana.</br></br>Gabriel Metoyer (born 1847) was born a free person of color in Natchitoches, La. and worked as a farmer. He is a descent of Marie Thérèse Coincoin. Gabriel married Pauline (born 1861) in 1880, and together the couple had at least six children: Magdaline (born 1880), Calister (born 1885), Allen (born 1888), Thomas (born 1891), Eugenia (born 1894), and Lelia (born 1897).